The New England Patriots faced off against a desperate Pittsburgh Steelers team who came to Foxboro, MA with a 2-5 record and a chip on their collective shoulder after losing to Oakland the previous week. The Patriots–coming off a four game stretch of disappointing losses to Cincinnati and the New York Jets with two comeback wins that easily could have been losses to Miami and New Orleans–needed a decisive victory heading into their bye week.
The Patriots jumped out to a 24-10 lead at halftime with a throwback performance by quarterback Tom Brady and tight end Rob Gronkowski. Showing what their offense can do when the key pieces are healthy, Brady put up 252 yards and threw touchdown passes to Gronkowski and wide receiver Danny Amendola. In fact, the duo accounted for all but 42 yards through the air in the first two quarters.
Meanwhile, the defense was hardly shutting down the Steelers, but they did get the Steelers off the field on third down repeatedly in the first half as Pittsburgh converted only one of six third downs through the first two quarters. The positive signs on defense for New England included sacks from defensive ends Chandler Jones and Rob Ninkovich (including a forced fumble) and an interception by safety Devin McCourty.
The excitement was ramped up in the third and fourth quarters as the Patriots let the Steelers come back and tie the game in the third quarter before a wild fourth quarter where the Patriots scored four touchdowns and turned a close game into a laugher....CLICK HERE FOR MUCH MORE: http://cover32.com/patriots/2013/11/05/new-england-patriots-offense-explodes-against-steelers/
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